When Kasey and I were kids, the Cabbage Patch doll craze was in full swing. Of course our family had no money for Cabbage Patch dolls, so we could only dream of them and stare longingly at our friends who cradled theirs and dressed them up and framed their Adoption Papers boasting names like Corey John and Beatrice Celeste and signed by none other than Xavier Roberts himself! They would bring them to school and enforce nap times. Kasey and I knew we would never know this true joy, but we got close enough to smell it and on several occasions my friend Tera let me hold her little Randall Alexander.
I have mentioned that our family managed an apartment complex on the wrong side of the tracks in South International Falls, Minnesota. I may have even mentioned that the kids in my family were forced to do manual labor for as little as $2 per month.
But did I ever mention the best day of our lives? The day my dad came running into the house with a bald-headed Cabbage Patch doll in hand? He beamed proudly and gave it to Kasey and she squealed with delight. Her very own Cabbage Patch doll!
I was so excited I wrote about it this letter to my Auntie Julie, claiming full ownership even though my dad gave him to Kasey.
Never mind that Ethen Nathanial was dirty, naked, from the dumpster and had a noose around his neck.
Now That's Good Parenting.
4 comments:
I had forgotten about those awful ugly things. My kid got a "homemade" one, which left her somewhat underwhelmed. But Larry saw the price tag......
OH. MY. LORD! Since time and space are wibbly-wobbly, I 100% believe that your dad found and gave you my little sister's "dirty baby." He was a bald, dirty, cabbage patch premie that had very thick string around his neck in order to keep his head tied on to his body. Also, he was generally dirty. His name may have been Ethan Nathaniel, but my entire family referred to him only as "dirty baby."
I still have Dawn's cabbage patch doll. The doll looks exactly the same as your picture, except the hair is much blonder. Ryan has his boy one still too. I always wonder why I hang on to it, now I know why. It has more than monetary value. Auntie Cheryl
Lisa ( #1 fan) said...
FYI - I bought three of these at a resale store for $15 each and sold them on ebay for $100's!!
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